Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-09-09
A Daughter Worth Having.

street. The one who lived in the city
was on his way to meet a pressing busi-
ness engagement. After few express
sions of delight, he said:
"Well, Pm off. Pm sorry, but it can
not be helped. | will look for you to-
morrow at dinner. Remember, two
o'clock sharp. want you to see my
wife and child"
"Only one child 2" asked the other.
"Only one," came the answer, tender
ly, ga daughter. But she's a darling"
And then they parted; the stranger
in the city getting into a street car
bound for the Park.
After going block or two, group
of five girls entered the car; they evil
IDENTIFY belonged to families of wealth;
they conversed well. Each carried a
very elaborate decorated lunch basket;
each was well-dressed. They, too, were
going to the Park for picnic. They
seemed happy and amiable until the car
again stopped, this time letting in a
pale-faced girl of about eleven and a sick
boy of four. These children were shab-
billy dressed, and on their faces were
looks of distress. They, too, were on
their way to the Park. The gentleman
thought so; so did the group of girls,
for he heard one of them say, with a
look of disdain:
81 suppose the ragamuflins are on an
excursion, too?"
81 shouldn't want to leave home if |
had to look like that. Would you?"
"No, indeed But there is no ac-
counting for tastes. Think there ought
to be special line of cars for the lower
classes
All this was spoken in a low tone, but
the gentleman heard it. Had the child,
too? He glanced at the pale face and
saw tears. He was angry.
Just then the exclamation, "Why,
there is Nettie! Wonder where she is
goiEg?" caused him to look out upon the
corner, where sweet-faced young lady
beckoned TO the car driver. When she
entered the car she was warmly greeted
by the five, and they made room for her
beside them. They were profuse in eX-
carnations and questions.
"Where are you going?" asked one.
80, what lovely flowers. Who are
they for?" said another.
"Pm on my way to Belle Clark's. She
is sick, you know, and the flowers are
for her."
She answered both questions at once,
aud then, glancing toward the door of
the cal, saw the pale girl looking wist-
fully at her. She smiled at the child,
tender look beaming from her beautiful
eyes, and forgetting that she wore a
handsome velvet skirt and costly jacket,
and that her shapely hands were cov-
cred with we'll fitted gloves, she left her
seat and crossed over to the little ones.
She laid one hand on the boys thin
cheek as she asked of his sister:
"This little boy is sick, is he not?
And he is your brother, l am sure"
1t seemed hard for the girl to answer,
but finally she said:
Eyes, miss, he is sick. Freddie never
has been well. Yes, miss, he is my
brother. We're goin' to the Park to see
if 'twont make Freddie better"
81 am glad you are going," the young
girl replied in low voice meant for no
ones ears except those of the child. 81
think it will do him good; it's lovely
there with the spring flowers all in
bloom. But where is your lunch? You
ought to have lunch after so long a
ride
Over the little girls face came flush.
eyes, miss, we ought to, for Freddie's
sake, but, you see. we didn't have any
lunch to bring. Tim-he's our brother
he saved these pennies so as Freddie
could ride to the Park and back. guess
mebbe, Freddie'll forget about being
hungry when he gets TO the Park"
There were tears in the lovely girls
eyes as she listened; and very soon she
asked the girl where they lived, and
wrote the address down in tablet
which she took from bag on her arm.
After riding few blocks she left the
car, but she had not left the little ones
comfortless. Half the bouquet of ViO-
lets and hyacinths were clasped in the
sisters hand, while the sick boy, with
radiant face, held in his hand pack
age, from which he helped himself now
and then, saying to his~sister in jubi-
liant whisper:
s'She said we could eat 'em all-every
one when we get to the Park. What
made her so sweet and good to us?"
And the little girl whispered back:
"It's cause she's beautiful as well as
her clothes" The gentleman heard her
whisper.